Structural wall apparatus and method for a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming machine includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing includes a first wall having a first ventilation port in fluid connection exterior to the outer housing. The inner housing within the outer housing includes a second wall including a second ventilation port. The second ventilation port is offset from the first ventilation port. The gaming machine also includes a player input/output accessible through the outer housing, and circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 an outer housing including a first wall having a first ventilation port in fluid connection exterior to the outer housing;   an inner housing within the outer housing, the inner housing includes a second wall including a second ventilation port, the second ventilation port being offset from the first ventilation port;   a player input/output being accessible through the outer housing;   circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation port and the second ventilation port are connected by a duct to convey fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation port is positioned rearwardly of the second ventilation port. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation port is positioned downwardly of the second ventilation port. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing and the inner housing form a gap therebetween, the gap providing at least one of liquid protection for the circuitry for gaming or air flow for the circuitry for gaming. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the inner housing includes a fan to draw air through the first ventilation port from outside the outer housing into the gap, into the inner housing through the second ventilation port and out the inner housing and outer housing. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the gap includes a raceway to hold wiring. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the gap includes a cooling system. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the gap includes an antenna for wireless communication with external circuitry. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outer housing and the inner housing both operate as structural supports. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation port has fewer apertures than the second ventilation port. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall do not face each other. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall is positioned on a side or rear of the gaming machine. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the second wall is positioned on a side or front of the gaming machine. 
     
     
         15 . A gaming machine, including:
 an outer housing having side walls, at least one side wall having a first inlet in fluid connection exterior to the outer housing, at least one side wall having a first internal ventilation port in fluid connection with the first inlet, the first internal port being offset from the first inlet;   an inner housing being fixed within the outer housing and including a second internal ventilation port and third internal ventilation port, the second port and third port being offset from the first port and each other;   a player input/output being accessible through the outer housing;   circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.   
     
     
         16 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a cabinet having a housing further comprising:
 an outer housing including a first wall; 
 an inner housing within the outer housing, the inner housing includes a second wall in spaced relation with respect to the first wall; 
 at least one cable routing structure positioned between the inner housing and the outer housing; 
   circuitry for gaming within the inner housing;   a peripheral device outside the cabinet;   at least one cable routed through the at least one cable routing structure, the cable operably coupling the circuitry for gaming and a peripheral device outside the cabinet.   
     
     
         17 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming machine further comprises a top box attached to the cabinet, the top box including at least one peripheral device operably connected to the circuitry for gaming with the at least one cable, the cable coupling the peripheral device and the circuitry for gaming substantially inaccessible from the exterior of the cabinet and top box. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming machine further comprises a top box attached to the cabinet, the top box including at least one peripheral device operably connected to the circuitry for gaming with the at least one cable, the cable coupling the peripheral device and the circuitry for gaming substantially inaccessible from the exterior of the cabinet and the exterior of the top box, the cable accessible from within the top box. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming machine further comprises a player input/output being accessible through the outer housing, the player input/output operably connected to the circuitry for gaming. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the peripheral device associated with the top box is a display. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the peripheral device associated with the top box is an attractor device. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming machine of  claim 16 , wherein the cable routing structure includes a portion of the first wall and a portion of the second wall. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the routing structure further comprises a third wall connecting the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the routing structure further comprises:
 a third wall connecting the first wall and the second wall; and   a fourth wall connecting the first wall and the second wall, the third wall spaced from the fourth wall.   
     
     
         25 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  wherein the second wall includes an opening therein, the opening positioned to access the routing structure. 
     
     
         26 . A method for maintaining an electronic gaming machine having an outer housing positioned within an inner housing, the inner housing including gaming circuitry which includes a microprocessor, memory and a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the microcontroller, the method comprising:
 removing the inner housing from the outer housing; placing a replacement inner housing into the outer housing; and   coupling the peripheral devices outside the inner housing to the gaming circuitry.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein removing the inner housing includes uncoupling fasteners from the outer housing. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein removing the inner housing includes unlatching the inner housing from the outer housing. 
     
     
         29 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 an outer housing including a first wall;   an inner housing within the outer housing, the inner housing positioned within the outer housing to form a gap between the inner housing and the outer housing, the inner housing including a second wall with a ventilation port to the gap;   a player input/output being accessible through the outer housing; and   circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.   
     
     
         30 . The gaming machine of  claim 29  wherein the outer housing includes openings proximate the top of the gap to allow air to escape from the gap. 
     
     
         31 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 an outer housing including a first wall;   an inner housing within the outer housing, the inner housing includes a second wall, the first wall and the second wall forming a passageway located between the second wall of the inner housing and the first wall of the outer housing;   a player input/output being accessible through the outer housing;   circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.